November 18, 2013

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Note: Where possible, we provide the DOI link to research papers in the Info Round-Up.  To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/.  Access to research articles will be dependent on your institutional rights.

CHILDREN

Active Bodies Active Minds

Screen-time reduction information and resources for people who care for preschool-aged children

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cognition, Academic Achievement, and Psychosocial Function in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials

Preventing Chronic Disease 2013;10

http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd10.130010

Aerobic physical activity is positively associated with cognition, academic achievement, behavior, and psychosocial functioning outcomes. More rigorous trials with adequate sample sizes assessing the impact of APA on children’s cognitive abilities, psychosocial functioning, behavior, and academic achievement are needed, with standardized interventions, valid and reliable tools of measurement, and long-term follow-up for sustained cognitive and psychosocial outcomes

Haliburton Communities in Action

This is a rare, well-documented model for promoting walking and cycling in a small or rural community.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Physical activity in diabetes: Is any better than none?

Journal of Diabetes and its Complications Available online 7 November 2013

doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2013.10.012

The primary goal of treatment in diabetes focuses on achieving and maintaining optimal glycemic levels, but lifestyle modification, including PA, will remain central to the long-term clinical management of diabetes. It may be advantageous for individuals with T2DM to make incremental gains toward the recommended PA level because of its demonstrated glycemic benefits; however, further investigation of the glycemic and vascular effects of PA among individuals with T2DM is warranted.

CONFERENCES

Call for Presenters - AHKC Global Summit

The 2014 Global Summit is currently accepting submissions for oral presentations, workshops, and poster presentations until December 1, 2013.

OLDER ADULTS

Age-Friendly Housing for an Older Population; Age-Friendly Communities Canada Hub

On-line Event 27 November 2013 13:00 - 14:30 EST

In partnership with the Population Health Promotion and Innovation Division of the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Age-Friendly Communities Canada Hub is excited to present a series of webinars on age-friendly communities in Canada.

Falls in the general elderly population: a 3- and 6- year prospective study of risk factors using data from the longitudinal population study ‘Good ageing in Skane’

BMC Geriatrics 2013, 13:81

 doi:10.1186/1471-2318-13-81

Three main components predicting falls were identified in a general elderly population after three and six years: reduced mobility, heart dysfunction and functional impairment including nocturia. The use of neuroleptic drugs was also a prominent individual risk factor, although the prevalence was low.

Interactive programs with preschool children bring smiles and conversation to older adults: time-sampling study

BMC Geriatrics 2013, 13:111

 doi:10.1186/1471-2318-13-111

Keeping older adults healthy and active is an emerging challenge of an aging society….. The subjects of this study were 25 older adults who participated in intergenerational programs with preschool children aged 5 to 6 years at an adult day care centre in Tokyo.

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

A Guide to Exercise Prescription

Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice Vol 40, Iss 4, Dec 2013, Pages 801–820

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.002

Exercise is a fundamental component of good health. The ACSM and Exercise is Medicine recommend treating exercise as a vital sign, and assessing and prescribing physical activity at every medical visit. Achieving the recommended goals of physical activity results in significant reduction in all-cause mortality. Physicians can improve health by prescribing exercise.

Impediments and Facilitators to Physical Activity and Perceptions of Sedentary Behavior Among Urban Community Residents: The Fair Park Study

Preventing Chronic Disease 2013;10

http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd10.130125

Our findings illustrate the need to increase the awareness of negative health implications of prolonged sedentary time while continuing to address the multiple impediments to physical activity as a way to combat chronic disease.

RESEARCH STUFF

Canadian Community Health Survey: Public Use Microdata File, 2011/2012 and 2012

Now available. During 2011 and 2012, data were collected from approximately 130,000 respondents aged 12 or older, residing in households in all provinces and territories.

The files provide data for 109 health regions or combined health regions across Canada and include information on a wide range of topics, including: physical activity, height and weight, smoking, exposure to second hand smoke, alcohol consumption, general health, chronic health conditions, injuries and use of health care services. It also provides information on the socio-demographic, income and labour force characteristics of the population.

 WORKPLACE

The READY Program (REsilience and Activity for every DaY).

This is a group psychosocial resilience training program done in a workplace setting. The program aims to promote well-being by targeting five protective factors identified from empirical evidence: Positive emotions, cognitive flexibility, social support, life meaning, and active coping.